Programmed by Andrew Braybrook
Produced by Hewson

Reviewed by Jason 'Kenz' MacKenzie/Binary Zone Interactive

Before I begin the actual review I'd like to give you brief history lesson and tell you how Uridium changed my life. Many years ago I was a PROUD Spectrum owner. I was happy and contented with my little rubber keyed 48K wonder and as far as I was concerned it was the best thing in the world. A schoolchum of mine (Matt Walton) invited me over to his house to play on his COMMODORE 64. I had never actually SEEN a C64 and knew of it only as that OTHER computer which rivalled the Speccy. Not knowing at all what to expect I waited patiently while Matt loaded up a game called Uridium. The game loaded ... The music started ... Matt had a go ... I was in love. I was absolutely amazed and enthralled by the unbelievable SMOOTH scrolling, ARCADE quality graphics and a GORGEOUS title tune which was like nothing I had ever heard before. This was the start of many trips to Matts house, and many hours of C64 gaming.

A couple of years later I was the proud owner of a C64. Then I got into demos, started a PD library called Binary Zone PD - and the rest is history. When Mike asked me for a review of a fave C64 game there really was only one that I could review - and that was the game which made me buy a C64 in the first place! So now buckle up tight as we prepare to launch our tiny Manta class starfighter in an attack against huge space Dreadnoughts.

Uridium - By Andrew Braybrook. Music by Steve Turner. Uridium is a slick horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up in which you control a highly manoeuvrable "Manta" class starfighter. You must pilot your Manta along the deck of a gigantic "Dreadnought" dodging obstructions like walls and antenna etc. Other defences include waves of fighters which attempt to destroy your ship and "Uridimines" which are unleashed from glowing launchers if you hang around near them for too long. At the end of each Dreadnought is a runway which you must glide your Manta over in order to land safely. Once landed you must then tackle a simple subgame which basically involves timing the press of your fire button when a bonus score is highlighted. Click on "LOSE" and that's the end of your bonus but if you click the score and you then have the chance of receiving an even bigger bonus (but the subgame speeds up accordingly). Once the subgame is over, the Dreadnoughts' self destruct is triggered and you are treated to the sight of the complete and utter destruction of the massive enemy ship! Then it's onto the next level with a Dreadnought featuring a more devious and deadly layout.

There's many excellent features implemented into Uridium which make it a really special game. The first thing is the Manta ship that you control. This is normally viewed from above but you can also flip the ship on its side to fit through small gaps in walls. Of course, you have to be travelling slightly faster than normal to flip the ship on its side or that would have made things too easy! The way your ship turns around is another inspired bit of design. It actually flips onto its back and then rolls over before heading in the opposite direction! Other neat touches include the great presentation on the game front end, the small craft which launches your Manta at the start of each level, some CUNNING and HAIR WRENCHING Dreadnought layouts, SUPERB bas-relief graphics for the decks of the Dreadnoughts and a title tune which suits the game absolutely PERFECTLY. All this and it's in ONE LOAD too!

I can't praise Uridium enough. It's one of those games you can return to time and again for a quick blast. Some of the awkward spaces you have to squeeze your Manta through (whilst being chased by a couple of Uridimines) will have you exclaiming out loud when you manage to either emerge from a dangerous area unscathed or smash your ship into a wall! What more can I say about Uridium except that if this game was a girl I would have married it a long time ago

Overall 96% This game made me buy a C64. Nuff said!